Abusive teenage hunt supporter given police caution

Hayley O’Keeffe

An anti-fox hunting campaigner has welcomed news that a teenage boy has received a police caution for sending her a threatening voicemail.

Penny Little, who is an associate of the group Protect Our Wild Animals, and an independent hunt monitor, received the aggressive expletive laden message in January this year after attending a hunt in Northamptonshire.

The voicemail allegedly featured the song What Does the Fox Say, interspersed with a hunting horn being blown.

At the end of the message, a male voice mentions Mrs Little and calls her an unprintable name.

She says she recognised the boy’s voice and reported it to police, who spoke with the 17 year old.

He was later given a caution over the episode.

Mrs Little, who lives near Thame, said: “Monitors are subjected to appalling harassment and abuse from hunters and their followers.

“To invade my privacy in such an obnoxious way is a good example of the standard of behaviour we have come to expect from hunters.

“In this case I am pleased with the outcome and am grateful to Northamptonshire Police for dealing with the matter so efficiently.”

This week Prime Minister David Cameron backtracked on plans for MPs to have a free vote on relaxing hunting rules, following opposition from the SNP, Labour, Lib Dems and members of his own party.

The sport, which sees riders on horseback follow a pack of hounds in pursuit of a fox has long garnered strong opinions on both sides of the argument. It was banned by Tony Blair’s Labour government in 2005 – sparking protests from some countryside groups who said it would hit the rural economy.

Hunts are no longer allowed to chase and kill foxes and other wildlife. Monitors says they observe the events to ensure that this law is upheld.